Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Oxford, MS?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.2% of gross income.
Oxford rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Oxford, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Oxford
View full rent data for Oxford, MS →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Oxford, MS?
Median rent in Oxford is $2,044 a month. A typical police officer in Mississippi earns about $62,589 a year, which makes that rent 39.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Oxford?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Mississippi (~$62,589/yr) supports up to $1,565 a month in rent. Oxford's current median rent is $2,044/mo, which is $479/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Oxford?
At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a police officer in Mississippi works roughly 67.9 hours a month to cover Oxford's median rent of $2,044.
Where is rent cheaper than Oxford for a police officer?
Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Olive Branch ($1,993/mo), Olive Branch ($1,986/mo), Olive Branch ($1,959/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.